DOHA: A total of 260 child mortality cases were reported in Qatar in 2011, of which 39 percent included Qatari children and 41 percent expatriates.
The child mortality rate was very high among boys as the male children mortality was 59 percent while 41 percent cases were recorded among female children, the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics said in a report yesterday, on the eve of Universal Children’s Day.
The report included an overview of the latest data related to children’s education, culture and demography.
The data is based on the multi-indicator cluster survey 2012, labour force sample survey 2012 and education data 2012.
Disorders related to premature birth and low birth weight are the major causes of child mortality, with 20 percent of the cases.
As much as 12 per cent cases of child mortality were caused by traffic accidents.
The report said the use of computer and the Internet are most widespread in the 10-14 age group.
The rate of computer-use by the 10-14 age group reached 93 percent in 2012, whereas the same age group, who used the Internet, amounted to 85 percent.
In other words, seven among 10 children (under 18) use the computer, and almost eight among 10 use the Internet.
Children constitute almost 40 percent of the population in Qatar, while those under 18 years constituted almost 40 percent of the population in 2012.
Children under five years constituted 10 percent of the population, the 5-9 age group 12 percent, the 10-14 age group 11 percent and the 15-19 age group 7.7 percent.
There was a slight variation among both genders in terms of enrolment in early education programmes, according to the report.
Statistics for 2012 also show 65 percent of children in the 3-4 age group are regularly enrolled in early education programmes (kindergarten) of whom 67 percent were boys and 64 percent girls.
The report said there were no differences among both genders in terms of primary enrolment.
Enrolment in primary schools amounted to 103 percent in 2012, with a gender equality index 1.00.
For high school (including secondary school), the enrolment rate was 98.6 percent.
Boys and girls constituted 95 percent and 102.7 percent, respectively.
The Peninsula
